By Uziah Tusaasire
In 2020, Robert Mugabe won the NRM flag for the Kitagwenda District LCV chairperson seat but was later disqualified by the Electoral Commission in 2021 over failure to meet the required academic qualifications, paving the way for independent candidate Ismail Mushemeza to go unopposed.
Following his disqualification, Mugabe turned to the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU), where he obtained a Mature Age Entry certificate. He subsequently used the qualification to enroll for a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and Social Administration at Bishop Stuart University.
In 2024, Mugabe graduated with a degree in Social Work and Social Administration and later relied on the qualification to seek nomination for the Kitagwenda County parliamentary seat, which he secured after a landslide victory in the NRM primaries.
However, a concerned resident later petitioned IUIU to verify the documents Mugabe used to qualify for the May 2021 Mature Age Entry examination. Investigations established that he had allegedly used a forged national identity card, prompting IUIU to cancel his Mature Age Entry certificate last week.
Mugabe previously served as a councillor for Nyabbani Sub-county before becoming the interim chairperson of Kitagwenda District when it was elevated to district status in 2019.
The Electoral Commission has since summoned Mugabe for a meeting scheduled for Tuesday, January 6, 2026, as his eligibility remains under review.
